Haley Barbour Pardons

Haley Barbour Pardons, Haley Barbour gave pardons or early release to more than 200 people in his his final days as Mississippi governor, including more than two dozen whose crimes were listed as murder, manslaughter or homicide, state records show.

A list released by the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office on Tuesday showed some of the convicted killers were pardoned, while others were given medical or conditional releases. He had released five other convicted killers in 2008. One of them had been granted a conditional release earlier and was pardoned this time.

Relatives of crime victims had voiced outrage Monday after it was revealed that Barbour had pardoned four convicted murderers. Those men had worked at the Governor’s Mansion as part of a prison trusty program.

A complete list was disclosed Tuesday, the day that Barbour’s successor, Republican Phil Bryant, was sworn in at the state Capitol. Barbour had served two terms and couldn’t run again due to term limits.

Besides those convicted of manslaughter and murder, Barbour gave early release to people convicted of drug crimes, DUI deaths, burglary and kidnapping. Many of the people were already out of prison or otherwise free.

Among those getting full pardons was the brother of former National Football League player and University of Southern Mississippi standout Brett Favre. Earnest Scott Favre had his record cleared in the 1996 death of his best friend, Mark Haverty. Favre had driven in front of a train in Pass Christian while drunk, pleaded guilty in 1997, and was sentenced to a year of house arrest followed by two years’ probation.

On the way into the Mississippi House chamber for his successor’s inauguration, Barbour had no comment when asked by The Associated Press about the pardons.